happy transgender day of visibility!

Posted by Marilyn Koo37sc on March 28, 2018

Transgender Day of Visibility or TDOV is a day to show your support for the trans community. TDOV started in 2010 and takes place every year on March 31. Whether you know a transgender person personally, or just want to show your support for people living as their true selves, TDOV is a chance to learn, accept and celebrate.

What does it mean to be Transgender/Trans?

Transgender/Trans: an umbrella term for people who do not identify with the gender they were assigned at birth (male, female, intersex). Gender Identity is someone’s personal sense of their own gender and where they identify on the gender spectrum of male and female. For Transgender people, the sex they were assigned at birth and their own internal gender identity may not always match up.

Words matter.

People used to use words like “tranny” to refer to transgender individuals. As times have evolved, it is now preferred to use words like transgender instead of transgendered, trans instead of tranny, or use words like genderqueer or gender non-conforming. If you are not sure what words to use, that’s ok. Your best bet is to be honest about your lack of knowledge and ask!

Gender Pronouns:

You may have heard someone ask something along the lines of “what are your preferred pronouns?”Pronouns are words like she, her, hers, him, he, his. People are often used to just using pronouns to describe someone without asking. However, it is becoming more popular to ask someone what their pronouns are. This allows everyone to be more comfortable being themselves! Some people are even choosing to use pronouns like they, them, theirs, or ze, zir, zirs. These allow someone to identify as neither male nor female. Once you know what pronouns someone prefers, stick with those when talking to or about that person.

Get Involved with TeenSource

This blog was reposted from TeenSource.org, a project of Essential Access Health. TeenSource.org is an online hub for comprehensive and teen-friendly information on birth control, STDs, relationships and teen’s rights to accessing sensitive services. The site features youth-developed blogs and videos, a clinic finder, a Condom Access Project and links to TeenSource social media where youth can stay updated on relevant sexual and reproductive health information and news.